Paula Patton in Two-Piece Workout Gear Says "Happy Friday"

Paula Patton, the underrated star of Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol and Warcraft, shares a lot of posts on Instagram of herself outside or sharing inspirational messages. Recently, Patton posted a video of herself by the creek. She wore a light-pink shirt in it. She captioned the post, “Flow. Happy Friday!” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Paula Patton stays in shape and the photos that prove they work.

1. She Gets Enough Sleep

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Patton shared some of her go-to skincare secrets with People. She says that getting enough sleep is the most important part. “I think it affects the way you look overall,” Patton explained. “I don’t know how many people are getting 10 hours of sleep a night, but you find someplace within and let that [beauty] emanate outward.”

2. She Surfs

Patton spends a lot of time outside. She also enjoys trying new things. One outdoor activity that Patton tried was surfing. She shared this photo and these videos on Instagram of herself and a friend going surfing. Patton captioned the post, “First attempt at surfing - I’ll get up next time 😉

...to be continued.”

3. She Strength Trained

Patton shared how she got in shape for her role in Warcraft to Monarch Magazine. She says that she did, “2½ hours of weight training for 6 days a week for months.” Strength training and using weights has a lot of benefits. The Mayo Clinic reports, “By stressing your bones, strength training can increase bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Strength training can help you manage or lose weight, and it can increase your metabolism to help you burn more calories.”

4. She Rode Horses

Patton revealed to Monarch Magazine that she also rode horses to train for Warcraft. “Keep in mind, you are speaking to someone who only rode horses on vacation, like guided horses. Live action horseback riding is a whole other experience. LOL With all this activity I was showering like 2-3 times a day.” The American Heart Association states that riding can help with core muscles. “Sitting tall, pushing your legs into the body of your horse ignites the core muscles, which are imperative for balance and posture.”

5. She Ate A Lot Of Protein

Patton also ate healthy for her role in Warcraft. She told Monarch Magazine that she ate a protein-heavy diet. “Eating sooo much protein, I mean sooooo much protein; drinking it as well. I had protein coming out of my ears!!” Piedmont states that protein has a lot of benefits. “Protein is an important building block of bones, muscles, cartilage and skin. In fact, your hair and nails are comprised mostly of protein.”